Literary Criticism - Short Questions and Their Answers (From Sargodha University Past Papers) MA English Literature Part 2

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2022 IIA

Q1: Differentiate between literary criticism and practical criticism.

Literary Criticism is dissecting a literary work on a broader level, i.e. Marxism, Feminism, Psychoanalysis. Whereas Practical Criticism tries to find meaning of a text solely on text, such as themes, structure, use of diction, etc.

Q2: What are the objects of imitation as per Aristotle?

According to Aristotle, the object of imitation is the "Man in Action", those who are better than average people (of a particular timeframe). Source

Q3: What does Aristotle mean by the term "Comedy"?

Already answered

Q4: Which type of plots are the worst in Aristotle's view?

Aristotle absolutely despises episodic plots because the story resets as soon as an episode ends and all character development is lost. 

Q5: Define "Classical Realism" as per Belsey?

Already answered

Q6: What is Belsey's main argument in Critical Practice?

Her main argument mainly lies in how reading of literary texts through certain (Linguistic) theories such as poststructuralism aids in literary criticism. 

Q7: What is the central thesis of Sidney in Apology for Poetry?

The central thesis of Sidney's Apology for Poetry focuses on restoring the values and importance of poetry in the Elizabethan Era. 

Q8: What kind of understanding about poetry was felt in Sidney's time?

Poetry was considered "a mother of lies", "a nurse of abuse" and "a waste of time" during Sidney's time. 

Q9: What does Eliot want from a poet?

A deromantic, impersonal piece of poetic composition. 

Q10: How does the mind of the mature poet differ from that of the immature one, as per Eliot?

According to T. S. Eliot, the mind of a mature poet produces poetic texts that are not the products of his/her personal emotions and ideas drawn from tradition. Whereas an immature poet imitates and expresses himself. 

2022

Q1: How does Aristotle trace the origin and development of poetry? 

Aristotle, in his Poetics, claims that poetry originated as a natural consequence of people's love for rhythm, tune and imitation. Source

Q2: Define the term “Anagnorisis” given in poetics. 

Already answered. 

Q3: How does Sidney condemn the tragic comedy? 

Sidney condemns tragic comedy by suggesting that it is not desirable to mingle comic elements into a tragedy as according to Sidney, it takes away the tragic seriousness from a tragedy. 

Q4: What is the concept of Sidney about “rhyming and versing” for poet and poetry? 

Sidney asserts that it is not rhyming and versing that makes a poet but his poetic sense of imitating his surroundings as well as projecting the images of virtues and vices that maketh a poet. 

Q5: What is impersonal theory of poetry according to T.S. Eliot? 

Already answered

Q6: How does Eliot explain the term “Tradition”? 

Already answered below

Q7: What is Belsey’s view about classical realism? 

Already answered below

Q8: What is the relationship between language and thought according to Belsey in her book critical practice.? 

Already answered

Q9: Raymond Williams has carried out most of the discussion with the help of quotations, how do you see it? 

I don't know the answer to this question since it was out of course. 

Q10: What is the significance of “An Apology for Poetry” in literature? 

"An Apology for Poetry" is the first handbook of practical criticism as Sidney has not only constructed theories but he has proven them through examples. 

2021

Q1: What is Aristotle's concept of an ideal tragic hero?

According to Aristotle, an ideal tragic hero: 

• Must belong to the noble class
• His downfall must be sudden
• His downfall must be governed by his tragic flaw

Q2: What do you know about the term "Peripeteia" about Plot in Aristotle's poetics?

Already answered

Q3: Why does Eliot oppose the romantic conceptions in his famous theory of impersonality in Art?

Eliot opposes the romantic conception because he thinks poetry should be an outcome of the impersonal experience of the poet. The subjectivity in romanticism dismays him the most. 

Q4: What is T.S. Eliot's view about Wordsworth's theory of "Spontaneous overflow of powerful emotions"?

Eliot rejects the Wordsworthian conception of poetry. He considers poetry as an organization of the feelings collected through objective observation. 

Q5: What are three kinds of texts mentioned by Belsey in her book critical practice?

Already answered

Q6: How does Belsey draw the analogy between a reader and a consumer in her book critical practice?

Belsey draws the comparison between a reader and a consumer through the analogy of books being commodities. 

Q7: What is the worst kind of tragic plot according to Aristotle?

The episodic plot is the worst kind of tragic plot, according to Aristotle. 

Q8: What is Belsey's view about classical realism? 

According to Belsey, Classical Realism is a reader's own ideological interpretation of the realism shown in the text he/she is reading. 

Q9: What is Sir Philips Sidney view about poetry?

Already answered below

Q10: What were the charges of the puritan against poetry which Sidney answers?

The charges include the following: 

• Poetry is the mother of lies. 
• Poetry is a nurse of abuse. 
• Poetry is a waste of time. 
• Plato had tightly banished poets from his Republic. 

2020

Q1: Differentiate between Simple and Complex plot as suggested in Poetics? 

Simple plot means which does not follow a sudden reversal of situation and discovery of the hero's actions that result in his tragedy. In a complex plot, the story is governed by the sudden reversal of the situation and the discovery of the hero's actions which later transform into tragedy.  

Q2: Define the term "Anagnorisis" given in Poetics. 

Anagnorisis is the discovery of something which turns the ignorance of the tragic hero into knowledge and puts the event upside down against the favour of a tragic hero.  

Q3: How does Aristotle define "Comedy in Poetics? 

Aristotle defines Comedy as something which depicts human beings as "worse"  than they actually are in real life. Aristotle does not mean evil. But ridiculous and laughable. Source 

Q4: What are the three kinds of texts mentioned by Belsey? 

According to Catherine Besley, there are three kinds of text:  

• Declarative Text: Which declare a certain ideology in it 
• Imperative Text: Which compels a reader to think against a certain ideology 
• Interrogative Text: The text which makes a reader question the way a text is constricted and the ideology which comes with it. Source 

Q5: Where does ideology exist in Belsey's view? 

According to Belsey, Ideology exists in the text. It's upon the reader to discover it. Source 

Q6: What does Belsey mean by the term "Common Sense"? 

Common Sense is the natural understanding of the text that comes out of the particular text, suggests Belsey.  

Q7: How has Sidney established that poetry is antique and universal in nature? 

Sidney asserts that the end goal of poetry is to teach someone while providing delight. Poetry uses examples from the past and present to explain ideas. That is how it has achieved antiquity and universality. Source 

Q8: What does Sidney mean by a poet as a "maker"? 

According to Sidney, a poet is a "maker" because he makes his own world in his poetry. 

Q9: Why, according to Eliot "emotions recollected in tranquillity" is an inexact formula? 

T. S. Eliot considers the Wordsworthian maxim of poetry inexact because he thinks poetry has no relations with tranquillity and emotions. He considers poetry as an outcome of experiences that are not subjective. Source 

Q10: What does Eliot want from a poet?  

Eliot wants from a poet to compose his work based on his collected experiences. During the poetic process, he should completely remove himself from the poetry. 

2019

Q1: Enumerate the essential qualities of a good critic? 

According to T. S. Eliot, a good critic is the one who remains completely impartial, objective and unprejudiced in his approach, has a highly trained sensibility as well as has a knowledge of structural principles. Source 

Q2: Define "Tradition" in the light of Eliot's essay Tradition and the Individual Talent. 

According to Eliot, tradition is the living of the present, formulated by the incidents of the past and history.  

Q3: What is the role of a reader in reading the text as suggested by Belsey? 

According to Belsey, the role of a reader is to interpret the text based on his experiences and intellectual skills. So far, this theory has been rejected because not everyone has enough intellectual power to meet the requirements of a text to be interpreted. (Originally answered by Ajwa and Samreen in M.A ENGLISH(Annual System) University of Sargodha(UOS))

Q4: Define "Expressive Realism" as per Belsey? 

According to Belsey, expressive realism is a reader's own version of realism experienced by his or her own imaginary senses while reading a piece of text. 

Q5: What is the role of the poet's mind in the creative process? 

The role of a poet's mind is to compose a poem without the indulgence of the poetic personality, much like the role of catalyst in a chemical reaction.  

Q6: What kind of understanding about poetry was felt in Sidney's time? 

Under the influence of Stephen Gosson, poetry was considered to be a mother of all lies and a nurse of abuse.  

Q7: List out the differences between Tragedy and Epic poetry as given in Poetics? 

Aristotle mostly considers epic and tragedy the same as both depict heroic deeds in elevated manner and both the heroes of epic and tragedy suffer. The key difference between the two is epic showcases incidents through the means of language while a tragedy is exhibited through actions.  

Q8: How does Aristotle describe plot as a whole? 

Aristotle considers plot as a whole because according to him, plot carries all the necessary bits to display a proper sequence of incidents in a tragedy.  

Q9: Define poetry as per Philip Sidney's view. 

Sidney defines poetry as thus,  

Poetry is an art of imitation, a representing, counterfeiting, or figuring forth; to speak metaphorically, a speaking picture, with this end ,—to teach and delight. Source 

Q10: What does the term "Hamartia" mean? 

Hamartia, a term in tragedy, means a flaw in the hero (also his error of judgement) of a tragedy which leads to his downfall. Source

2018

Q1: How literary criticism is different from fiction? 

While fiction only deals with a narration of a fictional account of life, literary criticism is the evaluation, interpretation and a quest to find hidden meanings of any piece of literature.  

Q2: What does the term "Peripety" mean? 

Peripety is a term used in a tragedy, signifying the sudden reversal of circumstances that become adversely unfavourable for the tragic hero.  

Q3: Why, according to Eliot, "emotion recollected in tranquillity" is an inexact formula? 

Already answered in Q9 of 2020 

Q4: What does "deconstruction" mean in the light of Belsey's Critical Practice? 

Through deconstruction, Belsey means the attainment of the meaning of the text after splitting the text into the chunks based on its characteristics.  

Q5: How poetry is more philosophical than history in Aristotle's opinion? 

According to Aristotle's opinion, poetry is more philosophical than history because poetry is universal as opposed to history which focuses on the particular. Source 

Q6: List out four essential qualities of an Aristotelian tragic hero. 

The four essential qualities of the Aristotelian tragic hero are given below:  

• Essentially good 
• Should belong to a noble class 
• Should bear exceptional suffering 
• His downfall should be sudden 

Q7: What does Belsey mean by "Ideology"? 

Belsey means "ideology" as "the very condition of our existence in the universe". Source: Critical Practice by Catherine Besley 

Q8: What is Belsey's view of "New Criticism"? 

Belsey states in her book that New Criticism is a "contradictory" movement as on one side, it favours liberation from authority but on the contrary, gives considerable weight to observation. Source: Critical Practice by Catherine Besley 

Q9: What does Aristotle mean by the term "Comedy"? 

Already answered in Q3 of 2020 

Q10: State briefly Sidney's strong claim about the poet?  

Sidney claims that a poet paints the most truthful picture as compared to a historian. 

2017

Q1: What type of man is suitable for imitation in Aristotelian Tragedy? 

Already answered in Q6 of 2018

Q2: What is the importance of Plot in structuring tragedy? 

According to Aristotle, plot is the soul of a tragedy as the proper sequence of events grants the meaning of endurance in a tragedy.  

Q3: Define the term “Anagnorisis” given in poetics. 

Already answered in Q2 of 2020

Q4: What does Sidney say about Epic Poetry? 

Sidney says that epic is the "best" form of poetry, compelling people to learn heroism through the portrayal of heroic deeds. Source 

Q5: According to Sidney what is the utility of comedy other than providing mere delight?  

Sidney asserts that comedy can be utilized as a vehicle to teach something delightfully.  

Q6: How does Sidney condemn the tragic comedy? 

Sidney condemns tragic comedy by claiming that mingling of the two un-elevates the tragic dignity of a play.  

Q7: Why does T.S. Eliot reject the theory of “Spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” by Wordsworth? 

Eliot rejects the Wordsworthian notion of poetry because he thinks that the uncontrolled emotions can give rise to chaotic literature and also, he asserts that poetry is not about personal emotions but about the impersonal experience. Source 

Q8: How does Belsey see the function of a reader in a literary text? 

Belsey sees the reader as an interpreter of the literary text according to his own version of realism derived from the text.  

Q9: What is the relationship between language and thought according to Belsey in her book critical practice? 

Belsey compares language with a sheet of paper. She considers language a side of the paper and thought its other side. Source 

Q10: Define the term “Catharsis”. 

Catharsis means the purgation of one's thoughts from the excess of the emotions of pity and fear through art (particularly tragedy).  

2016

Q1: According to Aristotle, what aspects of life are represented by comedy?  

Aristotle asserts that in comedy, characters are "worse than real life" but not necessarily evil. But in comedy, ridiculous (and funny) aspects of life are depicted.  

Q2: What are the six elements that make up tragedy? 

According to Aristotle, there are six formulative elements of a tragedy which are listed below:  

• Plot 
• Character 
• Thought 
• Language or Diction 
• Song 
• Spectacle or Background 

Q3: What is the main difference between Epic and Tragedy? 

Already answered in Q7 of 2019 

Q4: Eliot used the term “objective co-relative” what does it mean? 

Objective correlative is a term deviced by Eliot which means objectives, events and chain of situations which will arouse particular emotion in the reader.  

Q5: What is T.S Eliot’s opinion about Wordsworth's theory of poetry? 

Already answered in Q7 of 2017 

Q6: Why does Sidney prefer poetry to philosophy?  

Sidney prefers poetry over philosophy because, to him, it is only the poetry that can guide people to what "should be done" instead of what "will be done"  as is the case with philosophy.  

Q7: How does Sidney define comedy? 

Sidney defines Comedy as 'an imitation of common errors of life' displayed in a ridiculous and scornful manner. Source 

Q8: What is the function of tragedy according to Sidney? 

According to Sidney, the function of a tragedy is to stir admiration and commiseration (a fancy word for pity).  

Q9: What is Belsey’s views about classical realism? 

Already answered in Q4 of 2019 

Q10: What is the relationship between language and thought explained by Belsey? 

Already answered in Q9 of 2017 

2015

Q1: What type of plot does Aristotle prefer to capture the attention of the audience? 

Aristotle prefers a complex plot with the sudden downfall of the tragic hero through peripety and anagnorisis to capture the attention of the audience.  

Q2: Define the term "Perripetcia" and "Anagnorisis" given in Poetics. 

Already answered in Q2 of 2018 and Q2 of 2020.  

Q3: How much importance does Aristotle give spectacle', the element of tragedy?  

Aristotle gives spectacle the least importance in the elements of tragedy because he asserts that tragedy can also be narrated through text (much like an epic). Source 

Q4: What is Sidney's opinion about the heroic or Epic poetry?  

Already answered in Q4 of 2017 

Q5: Sidney says "comedy is not merely to provide delight" what is the other utility of comedy? 

Already answered in Q5 of 2017 

Q6: What is the origin of poetry according to Aristotle?  

Aristotle claims that poetry originated from the soul of humanity with an instinct of imitation and harmony. Source 

Q7: What do you mean by the phrase "objective correlative" used by T.S Eliot? 

Already answered in Q4 of 2016 

Q8: Why does Eliot regard Milton as a bad influence on classical poetry? 

Eliot regards Milton as a bad influence on Classical Poetry because of:  

• His lack of eyesight 
• His use of archaic or dead language 
• His style is not classical. Source 

Q9: Does T.S. Eliot accept Wordsworth's theory of poetry is a "Spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings"? 

No, he does not. The reason is already stated in Q7 of 2017.  

Q10: What is Belsey's view about classical realism? 

Already answered in Q4 of 2019